Last season, Williams had 71 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks as he helped Alabama get to the championship game.

At the NFL Draft Combine, he ran a 4.83-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 30.5-inch vertical jump.

“Dominant defender,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said of Williams during the pre-draft process. “I know his production is moreso this year, but an interior player that is that dominating at that size has been fun to watch.”

Taking Williams would mean passing on Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, who has been widely regarded as the likely No. 1 pick and a perfect option for head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense.

But Williams’ dominance in college and potential as a pro could make him too impressive of an athlete to pass up.

There’s also no ruling out this is a smokescreen to confuse opponents and potential trade suitors further. Additionally, it may simply be Keim not risking word getting out by telling a potential top prospect he’s out of the equation.

The 2019 NFL Draft will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Cardinals are on the clock first.